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The Swain art from today's Roadmap

Swainey Todd··38 votes·13,134 views

https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/LOL_CMS_138_Article_02.jpg

This. Is. Absolutely. Gorgeous. I don't know how else to say it without sounding melodramatic.

Between the literal PILES of carnage that have a path carved between them for Swain to walk through, to the way the darkness of it all is contrasted with the bright glint of the water and the stunning sunset, to the way Swain's coat blows gently in the breeze (I sense a lot of Churchill vibes, tbh)... It's truly amazing. It looks so symbolic of what Swain is capable of just by himself, that even the vivid sunset spreads out like giant wings behind his [almost] obscured back.

When I saw this in the Roadmap today, I was flabbergasted. It looks like someone painted what they witnessed themselves! Whoever did this needs a raise!!

Seriously. It's amazing. As a Swain main, I'm so hyped now. Thank you for bringing us something so wonderful. <3

67 Comments

RiotReav336 votes

This was done by 3rdCollosus

He also did the base splash art for Yorick, Warwick, Galio and recently Urgot. He is doing Swains new Base splash as well.

Swainey Todd4 votes

Can I have his autograph?

[slayer-pantheon-rainbows]

Seriously, holy shit he does a great job! Way to get me more excited, Reav3.

[slayer-jinx-wink]

ModKnightsKemplar2 votes

Same. Good attention calling to some great art. I, too, am stoked.

I think I'm roughly as stoked as I was for the Taric rework. And that's a high bar.

Variks the Loyal3 votes

All of those splashes are fantastic. I especially love how the Galio one contrasts from the Sion one.

On topic, this art is stellar. Seriously, I don't play Swain and I'm really excited.

Brutusness5 votes

Hey Reav, just a quick question. Is Swain still crippled or has that changed in the new vision of him?

RiotReav316 votes

Is he currently crippled or was he ever crippled?

HibHib5 votes

{quoted}

Is he currently crippled or was he ever crippled?

Yes, yes he is? "The earliest account of Swain's existence comes from a Noxian infirmary doctor's notes. According to them, Swain limped into the ward without cry or complaint; his right leg was snapped in half, with bone protruding from the skin. A small, scowling bird seemed affixed to his shoulder. The doctor gawked in horror as the young adolescent answered questions about his health and age with a calm, even stare. Even behind the echoing crack as the sand counterweights reset his tibia, Swain's measuring gaze never flickered, nor did his eyes twitch from the pop of his fibula. He refused the doctor's recommendation of magical treatment for the leg's inoperable damage, requesting only a spare crutch before shuffling away. He next surfaced in documents from the Noxian military, although it is evident that they are incomplete. Normally a crippled boy would be turned away in shame from Noxus' proud legion, but the records indicate his first designation was that of a ranking officer." Its literally the start of his lore, an homage to his badassery. HE WALKS WITH A CANE IN GAME. HOW COULD THIS SLIP PAST YOU.

Skorch2 votes

I think what Reave was saying is that Swain isnt "Crippled" He has a really screwed up leg. But he is so badass that it doesnt cause him any downside in any way.

Swainey Todd2 votes

Oy vey. It's a rhetorical question, and talking from a figurative standpoint.

Someone can be PHYSICALLY crippled but have that not stand in his way, hence he himself isn't completely crippled. Yes, the old Swain has a limp, as the lore and animations obviously point out. But he himself is capable of whatever path he sets for himself regardless.

You're taking the question literally instead of figuratively.

Meep Man1 votes

Did he visit the doctor to "receive help for an injury" or "cleanse his body from a sign of weakeness"? Because are you really crippled if you can go about just as you were before the injury without help or aid? Sure, he has a cane, but does he need it? That's more the question.

DeathBurst11 votes

I believe that yes, in the current Live version, Swain is still crippled. It was explicit in the old pre-"Institute of War retcon" version of his lore, but the current in-game model still has a crutch and a limp. From http://leagueoflegends.wikia.com/wiki/Swain#Main we can read:

He refused the doctor’s recommendation of magical treatment for the leg’s inoperable damage, requesting only a spare crutch before shuffling away. He next surfaced in documents from the Noxian military, although it is evident that they are incomplete. Normally a crippled boy would be turned away in shame from Noxus’ proud legion, but the records indicate his first designation was that of a ranking officer.

But to be honest, I find it a bit worrying that you ask this question. This is the kind of things that should've been looked at at the very beginning of the ideation process, and you probably know it already. So why are you asking us?

Beyond Legends1 votes

Didn't Swain uncripple himself in the old lore anyways? I mean that the entire reason we got tyrant swain.

DeathBurst3 votes

Hum, no? I don't recall any mention of "uncrippling". You got a source for me?

Salson2 votes

Tyrant Swain isn't crippled, and it's supposed to be a cannon skin.

DeathBurst1 votes

Tyrant Swain still has a cane and the same limp as Base Swain.

Lord Jericho1 votes

Tyrant is the only skin where he walks normally. Unlike the other skins, his staff in Tyrant is not constantly being used to help him walk.

DeathBurst1 votes

OK, my bad. Thanks for actually checking.

midnight oil243 votes

Actually, I believe that it was meant to be Swain after he took full control of Noxus. It's like how Captain Fortune shows Miss Fortune when commanding her ship, or Pre-void Kassadin shows us what he looked like before the Void turned him into an eldritch horror.

Skorch1 votes

I think what Reave was saying is that Swain isnt "Crippled" He has a really screwed up leg. But he is so badass that it doesnt cause him any downside in any way.

Posted from another comment i made farther down

DeathBurst3 votes

If Reav3 was only questioning the choice of word, that wasn't clear at all...

Decrit1 votes

First, remember JoJ is non canon.

Second, why is it asking? Probably because things are not what they look like. It does not seem to me that even now in raven form he is crippled, for example, and maybe that twist (not of ankle ) was supposed to be revealed later in the JoJ too.

or probably it is just trollin and pulling up suspance. not like it would tell it aniway.

DeathBurst1 votes

It wasn't from JoJ, but from his main lore. His pre-retcon main lore, but his main lore nonetheless.

Decrit1 votes

still, we are talking JoJ era, where Galio was what it was and stuff like that.

DeathBurst1 votes

And ?

Bioluminescence (I think) made a post recently where she explicitly said: "you can consider old lore still canon unless it directly contradicts some more recent new lore".

A Superb Villain8 votes

Reav3 is not sincerely asking whether or not Swain was a cripple. He is implying that Swain was faking it the whole time.

Alternatively, Swain is literally crippled, but not figuratively; his leg is damaged but it doesn't impede him.

DeathBurst3 votes

That's two possible interpretations among dozens of other possibilities. Instead of speculating on the correct interpretation, I prefer to just ask directly something more explicit.

And I understand Reav3 is teasing and ambiguous on purpose, but still... That's not what I consider a good tease, when half the possibilities evoked are bad.

A Superb Villain2 votes

The frustration is understandable, but his teasing is done with good intentions since it is likely there are limitations on what he can and cannot say.

DeathBurst2 votes

Teasing is supposed to make people excited and hyped for the upcoming event. Not worried about potentially too drastic changes. I guess that's still anticipation, but not the good kind...

A Superb Villain2 votes

For as much as we hold Riot employees to a high standard, they are only human. It is very difficult to gauge the disposition of an online group, and for how volatile we, as anonymous communities, can be regarding something we love, the wrong statement is tantamount to a lit match.

I sincerely doubt Reav3 wanted to cause a headache, and if there is sufficient objection raised to the possibilities hinted or not hinted at, Riot will step forward to clarify. They did the same for Viktor fans over the uproar of his lore (though not all of us were satisfied with the end result).

What I am trying to say is voice your concerns; make threads, @Riot, let Riot know what you are thinking, just don't let things get out of hand.

DeathBurst1 votes

What I am trying to say is voice your concerns; make threads, @Riot, let Riot know what you are thinking, just don't let things get out of hand.

Well, I agree, but seems to me that's already what I did with my first reply to Reav3. I elaborated only since you prodded me ^^'

LunSeiSleidee1 votes

{quoted}

Is he currently crippled or was he ever crippled?

....This is a rethoric question pretty much proving that you guys removed Swain's crippled walk. Can't have a character who's not generically superperfect, isn't it? Who cares if someone playing this game is an actual cripple. Every character must be idealized.

I can bet that the new Swain is young, handsome, not crippled, and not bald.

DeathBurst4 votes

I can get behind your first paragraph, because that's also what I was afraid of, even if it's still early to say "pretty much proving"...

But your second paragraph is just gross exaggeration and makes you lose all credibility... For starters, it's a given that Swain won't be young, and we have had Urgot released not that long ago that definitely can't be called "handsome".

LunSeiSleidee1 votes

{quoted}

I can get behind your first paragraph, because that's also what I was afraid of, even if it's still early to say "pretty much proving"...

But your second paragraph is just gross exaggeration and makes you lose all credibility... For starters, it's a given that Swain won't be young, and we have had Urgot released not that long ago that definitely can't be called "handsome".

Wanna make a bet? How much will you give me if Swain turns out being younger, without cripple, without Beatrice, and with a more normal hairstyle?

Because I've been looking at what Riot is doing and I have a pretty good theory.

DeathBurst3 votes

ALL 4 of them? Age, disability, hairs and the raven? If you're really ready to commit, I'm in for 10 €. Because I'm 99% sure that at least the age and the raven will remain.

LunSeiSleidee1 votes

{quoted}

ALL 4 of them? Age, disability, hairs and the raven? If you're really ready to commit, I'm in for 10 €. Because I'm 99% sure that at least the age and the raven will remain.

Let's make it 5€ because you want ALL of them to apply.

DeathBurst4 votes

Deal.

LunSeiSleidee1 votes

{quoted}

Deal.

Done! I'm gonna enjoy my sweet 5$.

SteelMankind1 votes

He said euros so a bit more than that

ChíckenDaddy3 votes

Yes, and please keep him crippled. nothing is cooler then beating someone up while you can barely walk followed by calculated laugh spams over their dead body.

Melledoneus3 votes

Not sure if you're a Jojo's fan or not, but the edgy OP from part 4 (Diamond is Unbreakable) would fit so well over a cinematic with scenes like this in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dA_I8uEz5g

I, for one, would think that would be nice.

https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/LOL_CMS_138_Article_02.jpg?noredirect

I mean, just look at it. It's begging for a dark, edgy song to be played over it. It'd be great if you could let 3rdCollosus know how awesome this art is. Tell him Melledoneus sent you, he'll have no idea know exactly what to do.

Arakadia2 votes

IS HE COMPLETELY BALD OR DOES HE RETAIN SOME HAIR

######the more important questions

LunSeiSleidee1 votes

{quoted}

This was done by 3rdCollosus

He also did the base splash art for Yorick, Warwick, Galio and recently Urgot. He is doing Swains new Base splash as well.

No more six-eyed bird?

No more bald head?

Perhaps even no more crippled?

NO MORE BEATRICE???????????

Umbral Regent4 votes
  1. Six-eyed bird probably doesn't matter too much in the greater scale of things. We don't have anything concrete about Swain's appearance post-update yet, but even if they do away with it - I'm sure the rest will be worth it.
  2. Swain oh no, he wasn't bald to begin with? gasp!
  3. This is something I'm personally curious about; on the one hand, him being crippled did give him a unique appearance/characeristic compared to other Champions, but at the same time, his old lore is just - he's crippled, and normally Noxus would kick him out, but for no real reason he's a General. It's weird old lore that just doesn't make any sense.
  4. Literally, read point 1. We have nothing concrete about Swain besides what's shown in the picture for the Roadmap - for all you know, there could be ELEVEN Beatrices. Chill out.
Camille Ferrøs2 votes

{quoted}

This was done by 3rdCollosus

He also did the base splash art for Yorick, Warwick, Galio and recently Urgot. He is doing Swains new Base splash as well.

So that mean we should expect something really cool looking

I Main Swain2 votes

{quoted}

This was done by 3rdCollosus

He also did the base splash art for Yorick, Warwick, Galio and recently Urgot. He is doing Swains new Base splash as well.

whatever yall are paying him its not enough

SteelMankind1 votes

Idk if Riot is any different, but in general the artists involved in game dev (not just splash arts, but also models, vfx, and assets) are payed rather poorly

I Main Swain1 votes

{quoted}

Idk if Riot is any different, but in general the artists involved in game dev (not just splash arts, but also models, vfx, and assets) are payed rather poorly

if i were to guess i would say thats probably because theyre a dime a dozen, theres a LOT of people out there in that field if im not mistaken

6FlagsFunnelCake7 votes

Question: Where's Beatrice? All these WEAK ravens have TWO eyes!

Swainey Todd6 votes

I don't know!!

[sg-janna]

Necrozard5 votes

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/001/238/805/b05.jpg

Swain hype

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